Aeroplane



AEROPLANE. FILED JULY 27, 1920.

Feb. 6, 1923.

J. W. ENDEAN.

3 SHEETSTSHEET 1 3 gs ///,,I IIIII" NVENTOR WITNESS 5;

ATTORNEY Feb. 6, 1923. 1,443,982

J. W. ENDEAN.

AEROPLANE. FILED JULY 27, 1920. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 J/ .30 il /@161 5 727014 jfidearm I NVENTOR LA BY WI NES: ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 6, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFics.

JOHN WILLIAM El.\TDEA1\T, F FRANKFOR'I', NEW YORK.

AEBOPLANE.

Application filed July 27,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN W. ENDEAN, a citizenof the United States, residing at Frankfort, in the county of Herkimerand State of New York, have invented new and is automatically maintainedand the possibility of its capsizing sideways and making a nose dive iseliminated.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for adjusting theautomatic controlling means for the planes by the pilot so that theaeroplane may list within certain limits without actuating the planes.

Still another object of the invention is to provide electrical means foractuating the planes. the circuit of said electrical means beingcontrolled by the automatic means which preferably consist of a hollowmember containing mercury for closing the electrical circuits when theaeroplane lists.

This invention also consists in certain other features of constructionand .in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to behereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawingsand specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to theaccompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like orcorresponding parts throughout the several views. and in which Figure 1is a diagrammatic side elevation showing my invention applied to anaeroplane.

Figure Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4: is a section on line 4-4: of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a front view of the controlling device for the'circuits.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of the circuits. r

In Figure 1 the aeroplane is shown generally at A and as the same may beof any type 2 is a section on line 2-2 of 1920. Serial No. 399,330.

it will not be described in detail. In carrying out my invention I placea stabilizing plane 1 on each side of the fuselage, said planes beingbalanced on the shafts 2 which have their inner ends suitably journaledin the sides of the fuselage and extend into the same. The outer ends ofthe shafts are journaled in the bearings 3 which are supported by thestay rods 4 extending upwardly and outwardly from the sides of thefuselage. These rods may be provided with suitable guy wires 5. Theinner end of each shaft 2 carries an internal toothed gear, the teeth ofwhich extend over a quarter of the circumference of thegear. Within thefuselage is arranged a pair of cross shafts 7. These shafts are inalignment with each other and have their inner ends suitably connectedwith the electric motors 8 so that when either one of the motors isoperating the shaft connected therewith will be rotated. Each shaft iscomposed of two parts 9 and 10 which are connected together by theuniver-- sal joint 11. The part 10 of each shaft is suitably journaledin the bearing 12 while the part 9 is carried by the movable hearing 13,this bearing 13 being supported by the springs 14 carried by theuprights '15. These springs support the bearing spaced above theelectro-magnets 16 and these parts are so arranged that when the magnetsare energized they will attract the bearing and cause it to movedownwardly against the springs. This downward movement will place thepinion 17 carried by the part 9 of the shaft in mesh with the teeth ofthe gear 6 so that the rotation of the shaft will be communicated to thegear and thus the plane will be tilted so as to bring the aircraft backto an even keel.

The means for automatically closing the circuit of the motors andelectric magnets comprises a semi-circular glass tube 18 secured to abase 19 and adapted to contain mercury. The central part of this tube isprovided with an enlarged part 20 and adj acent said enlarged part thetube is formed with a nipple to form a reservoir 21, the nipple'beingprovided with a screw'threaded opening to receive the thumb screw 22. Byturning this screw in one direction or the other the level of themercury in the tube can be adjusted. I may place scale plates 23 on thebase on each side of the glass tube. In each end of the tube and in therear side of the enlargement are embedded the Wires 24 which arepreferably formed of platinum. These wires project well into the tubeand act as contacts for the mercury. These wires project from the tubeand are passed through insulated tubes 25 carried by the base and aresecured to the conductors 26, which are connected with the motors andelectro-magnets, as shown in Figure 6. I may place a switch 27 on theinstrument board for manually controlling the circuit. The base 19 ispivotallysecured to the in strument board, or any other desired part ofthe aeroplane. by the bolt 28 in such a manner that the base will swingon the board. A pointer 29 is secured to the lower edge of the base andsaid pointer extends over a perforated plate 30 secured to theinstrument board, the perforations in which are adapted to receive pins31 for limiting the swinging movement of the base by engaging saidpointer. By this means the pilot may control the actuation of the deviceso that it will not operate until the aircraft tilts be yond a safelimit.

It will thus be seen that if the aircraft should tilt to a certaindegree the mercury will How to one end of the tube and thus complete thecircuit to the electric motor and electro-magnets for theplane on thelow side of the aircraft. The closing of this circuit will start tobring the pinion into mesh with the gear and cause the motor to rotatethe shaft so as to tilt the plane and thus the aircraft will be broughtback to an even keel. If the aircraft should list to the other side thenthe mercury. will flow to the other end of the tube and the sameactionwill be repeated in connection with the other plane. By thisinvention the aircraft is held on an even keel automatically and'withoutany effort on the part of the pilot. This invention will effectuallyprevent the aircraft from listing beyond a predetermined degree so as toprevent nose dives. Whenever the pilot desires he may operate the shipin the usual manner by opening the switch 27 and thus rendering theautomatic device inactive. By means of the pins 31 the pilot may controlthe operation of the device so that it will not act until the ship listsbeyond a degree set by the pilot.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages andnovel features of my invention will be readily apparent.

I desire it to be understood that I may make changes in the constructionand in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, providedthat such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is 1. A safety device for aeroplanes comprising astabilizing. plane on each side of the fuselage, electric means fortilting each plane and automatic means for closing the circuit to suchmeansby the listing of the aeroplane, said automatic means comprising abase swingingly attached to the instrument board of the aeroplane, asemi-circular tube carried by the base and containing mercury, contactscarried by the tube and connected with the circuit and means forcontrolling the swinging movement of the base, such means consisting ofa pointer carried by the base, a perforated stationary part and pinsengaging the perforations and acting as stops for the pointer.

2. A safety device for aeroplanes comprising a stabilizing plane on eachside of the fuselage, electric means for tilting each plane andautomatic means for completing the circuit to said electric means, saidautomatic means comprising a base swingingly attached to the instrumentboard of the aeroplane, a semi-circular tube carried by the base andcontaining mercury, means for.

adjusting the level of the mercury in the tube, contact wires projectinginto the tube and connected with the circuit and means for adjusting theswinging movement of the base.

3. A safety device for aeroplanes comprising a stabilizing plane locatedon each side of the fuselage, a shaft carrying each plane,

a gear carried by each shaft, .a pair of shafts journaled in thefuselage, a pinion on each shaft adapted to engage with each gear,motors for driving the pair of shafts, spring means for holding thepinions out of engagement with the gear and electro-magnetic means forplacing the pinions in mesh with the gears.

4. A safety device for aeroplanes comprising a stabilizing plane locatedon each side of the fuselage, a shaft for each plane, a gear carried byeach shaft and having teeth on a part of its circumference While theother part is smooth, a pair of shafts mounted in the fuselage, a pinionon each shaft adapted to engage each gear, an electric motor for drivingeach shaft, spring means for holding the pinions out of mesh with thegears, electromagnetic means for placing the pinions in engagement withthe teeth of the gears and means controlled by the listing of theaeroplane for closing the circuit to said electromagnetic means and tothe motors.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN WILLIAM ENDEAN.

